Lolita

Go to one long meeting and listen to all of the same from each citizen, some shouting, some abusive, some very lucid. Then wait for some of the dialogue. Same as with every council and council member, some agree, some are very long winded with their speeches, and, then again, a tug of war occurs. Doesn't matter if you get 3 minutes or an hour, such as the sign ordinance just got, same results.

histupid

McGrail commented the residents have sufficient opportunity to communicate with the council at citizen's input. That's not communication! It's an opportunity for the resident to make a presentation which seldom receives a response. Communication usually involves 2 or more people discussing something.

Dsharrd

Lightswitch: Although I have the greatest respect for our city employees, I am not nor have I ever been a city employee, married to one or lived with one. Just wanted to set the record straight. To me your "switch" is always in the "off" position.

Lolita

Seriously...does anyone believe the answers given by the Incumbents. Sullivan with we need to change (fill in the blanks), Leetz will reach out to the citizens (fill in blanks). talks about round tables (already done), etc. etc. Four years and nothing new, election time and the incumbents are full of old ideas. It's all rhetoric on their part. Wantto change the resolution rules, change it, don't just talk about it. Yada yada yada.

lightswitch

Dishard tells it like it is. WHILE MAYOR SULLIVAN ALLOWED THE RESIDENTS TO GET THEIR POINTS ACROSS. DISHARD AS A CITY EMPLOYEE WANTS LIMITATION SO THE PRIVATE RESIDENT AND THE CITY EMPLOYED RESIENT ARE MUZZLED. Dsharrd thanks for heads up!

lightswitch

Citizens have in most cases the weekly ability to give in put and speak their cases with the city. IN MOST CASES.

I site 3 instances of of not allowing the citizens to engage the local city government.

First time was when city manager Gary King was fired for NO CAUSE. In put was BLOCKED by the leader of this Councilman Kevin McGrail. Along with his (sidekick) McClain, Donnell, and then newbies Carioscia, Erbrick, and Nestor. The chambers were packed that evening and well documented by the media. The money they spent for a search returned a replacement with many of the same findings. Here is now city manager's practically first finding after interviewing staff. News-Press: City manager finds fire and police weak in SCHEDULING AND PLANNING.

The second pushed by Erbrick was the change in workshops and voting not giving the public time to digest and speak to issues at the council meetings. (In other words done deals).

Dsharrd

Mr. Mayor: Just a reminder that the 3 minute rule came into play to prevent diarrhea of the mouth. On a number of occasions, you and Council Members allowed presenters to continue beyond the 3 minutes. Perhaps the dis-interest is a problem because all meetings take place during the normal work day when many of the citizens are at work. We are no longer a retirement community only. We need to change the times when we have hot topics like environment, sign ordinances, etc. We need to start acting like we are no longer the "bedroom" community but a vibrant growing city that is much more than that.

Lolita

After attending many meetings and noting only 4 to 9 people each time, I would opine that the problem is not that the public has been shut down, the public is not interested in what is going on. Leetz is the one of the main reasons no one comes. It is a circus and Sullivan cannot control it